Magnus Cort, who took a stage win at last week's Etoile de Besseges, expressed concern about the lack of anti-doping testing in French stage races.

Cortot, who joined EF Pro Cycling this year and finished second to teammate Alberto Bettiol in the time trial on the final day, claimed that no tests were conducted on any of the riders on any day.

On Instagram, Colt wrote that he was enthusiastic about his debut at EF Pro Cycling, but felt the lack of testing ruined his week.

"Unfortunately this week has not been all good.

"I don't understand how seven WorldTour teams are allowed to be on the start line without doping controls at this level of racing.

Testing at UCI-registered races is the responsibility of the UCI and is carried out through the Cycling Anti-Doping Foundation; the UCI reserves the right to test any registered athlete, in or out of competition, but its regulations do not mandate testing at every race It does not mandate inspections at every race.

Nevertheless, the winner of each stage and the overall leader, along with a select number of athletes, are typically tested each day of the stage race. A urine sample is usually used for post-stage testing, but last year's Tour de France also included a pre-stage blood test.

The UCI did not respond to a request for comment as to why anti-doping testing was not conducted at Etoile de Besseges, where Benoit Cosnefrois (AG2R La Mondiale) won.

"We believe that doping tests are effective and even if they are not, they have a preventive effect. If there are a lot of bike races where we know there are no doping controls, there is a risk that people will speculate about it," Colt told Danish broadcaster TV2, expanding on his comments.

"I think it is very important to have doping tests in order to keep the sport as pure as it is today. Because otherwise things would fall apart."